The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Not for our sake, God, no, not for our sake, but for your name's sake, show your glory. Do it on account of your merciful love, do it on account of your faithful ways.
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Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Do it so none of the nations can say, "Where now, oh where is their God?"
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Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in heaven doing whatever he wants to do.
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Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
4 Their gods are metal and wood, handmade in a basement shop:
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Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5 Carved mouths that can't talk, painted eyes that can't see,
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They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
6 Tin ears that can't hear, molded noses that can't smell,
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They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
7 Hands that can't grasp, feet that can't walk or run, throats that never utter a sound.
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They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them have become just like them, have become just like the gods they trust.
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Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
9 But you, Israel: put your trust in God! - trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
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O Israel,trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
10 Clan of Aaron, trust in God! - trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
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O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear God, trust in God! - trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
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You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
12 O God, remember us and bless us, bless the families of Israel and Aaron.
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The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 And let God bless all who fear God - bless the small, bless the great.
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he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.
14 Oh, let God enlarge your families - giving growth to you, growth to your children.
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May the LORD give you increase, you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by God, by God, who made heaven and earth.
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May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
16 The heaven of heavens is for God, but he put us in charge of the earth.
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The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 Dead people can't praise God - not a word to be heard from those buried in the ground.
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The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we bless God, oh yes - we bless him now, we bless him always! Hallelujah!
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But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.